The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 148

**Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe**
**Chapter 148**

**Aysel’s POV**

There I was, still crouched on the cold, sterile floor of the hospital, my fingers entwined with Magnus’s, stubbornly clinging to my defiance. But then, something shifted in his expression—a subtle change that sent a ripple of confusion through me. I instinctively followed his gaze, my senses sharpening, ears twitching slightly as I felt the tension in the air thicken around us.

Magnus had a way of making everything feel more alive; the world around us seemed to sharpen, the scents more vibrant and revealing. And then I saw it—the bright red letters of the hospital sign looming above us, taunting me with their stark declaration: “Obstetrics and Gynecology.”

A wave of dread washed over me, my ears flattening against my head, my tail brushing against the polished floor as I froze in place, paralyzed by the implications of that sign. Magnus, however, wore that infuriatingly calm, predatory smile that always made my heart race. Without uttering a single word, he lifted me effortlessly to my feet, his hand settling protectively over my abdomen. “Don’t catch a chill,” he murmured softly, his voice low and possessive, the wolf within him growling at the mere thought of anyone threatening me.

I shot him a glance that could have been mistaken for exasperation, but deep down, my body betrayed me; I leaned into the warmth of his presence, craving his strength. Meanwhile, Damon Blackwood stood nearby, frozen in place, his lips trembling like a young wolf sensing a rival’s power too close for comfort.

His anger flared like a wildfire, palpable in the air, and I could almost taste it. In an instant, he lunged forward, his voice a sharp blade cutting through the charged atmosphere. “Magnus! She’s only twenty-three!”

Each word dripped with outrage, a tremor evident in his voice as he continued, “Dragging her here… forcing her… you monster!” The accusation hung heavy in the air, filled with the scent of his fear and fury.

Magnus remained calm, stepping back with an almost fluid grace, allowing Damon’s fists to meet nothing but empty space. His movements were predatory yet measured, as he replied coolly, “And you, Damon, what authority do you claim in this matter? Your mere presence is an intrusion.”

Damon’s hands clenched into tight fists, knuckles whitening, his eyes locked onto me with an intensity that felt as though he was trying to read the very depths of my soul. “Even if we are… apart, I have been her brother in spirit for over a decade. You… soulless predator, will never understand responsibility.”

Responsibility? I stifled a laugh, the absurdity of it sending a flicker of wolfish instinct through me. Magnus merely smirked, his dark eyes glinting with mischief, as he leaned closer, his lips brushing my temple. “But Aysel… you still like me. Even if I’m the most wicked of predators, you wouldn’t leave me.”

He faltered, his voice dripping with venom as he pressed on, “Then who? This… predator you let dominate you?”

I lowered my gaze, the wolf within me bristling at his audacity, my heart pounding with indignation. “Damon, stop twisting what you do not understand. I will tell you one last time: Magnus and I—there has never been coercion, never a scheme. Only truth, only what our hearts sense. Judging us is merely your inability to accept reality.”

Magnus tightened his grip on my hand, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead, his scent enveloping me in a cocoon of Shadowbane dominance and protection. My wolf curled inward, a sense of satisfaction washing over me, feeling safe in his presence.

Damon’s fury, misguided as it was, couldn’t penetrate the bond that Magnus and I shared. He was an Alpha, yes, but the scent of Magnus, the strength of his pack, and the very essence of his being—it was a claim I recognized, a territory my soul had chosen.

I straightened, claws sheathed but ready, my chest rising and falling with the rhythm of both human and wolf. “I belong where I choose. And my heart has chosen.”